. >> reporter: merrill newman is home and free. >> good morning. i'm delighted to be home. >> reporter: the 85-year-old grandfather is back on american soil. just in time for the holidays, after being detained for 42 days in north korea. the retired finance executive was in the country for a ten day sight seeing trip but was pulled from his flight home by government officials held for hostile acts he allegedly committed there 60 years ago in the korean war. he apologized in this video confession released by the north korean government. >> there is misleading information and propaganda. >> reporter: throughout his captivity his family in california has pleaded for his safe return. sending him medication for a heart condition. >> we just hope whatever that misunderstanding is, it will be resolved. very quickly. and that he can return and be at our table for the holidays. >> reporter: in the end, north korea state run news agency said he was deported because of his health problems along with that apology. while this story has a happy ending, the u.s.